Key Canucks mentor Mattias Ohlund an influential figure, recognized by BC Hockey Hall of Fame

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There’s the player and then there’s the person.

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In a perfect National Hockey League world, you either draft or acquire an asset who not only meets performance expectations, but goes beyond to set the culture. For the Vancouver Canucks, their rich history of tapping into the Swedish product pipeline, and having several quietly lead by example, is remarkable.

The list is long, distinguished and includes Mattias Ohlund.

The long-serving defenseman will finally be feted by the BC Hockey Hall of Fame on July 22 in Penticton as part of the 2020 induction class, whose party was put on a two-year hold by COVID-19.

Ohlund will be joined by NHL defenseman Eric Brewer of Vernon, NHL official Jay Sharrers, 2012 national junior A hockey champion Penticton Vees, 2002 Memorial Cup champion Kootenay Ice and late junior hockey builder Ray Stonehouse.

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“Great guy, Ollie, absolutely my favorite Canucks D-man,” Ohlund’s former coach Marc Crawford said Wednesday. “He battled with the best of them and was absolutely a favorite teammate of so many. We became a team when he recovered from his eye injury.”

Ohlund finished the Canucks portion of his 13-year career as second in franchise scoring by blueliners with 325 points (93-232) in 770 games between 1997 and 2009. He’s also arguably in a four-way tie with Henrik and Daniel Sedin and Markus Naslund for mentorship of younger players — especially the Swedish contingent.

“I’ve played with a lot of Swedish players and I’ve never played with a bad Swedish teammate,” said former Canucks defenseman Ed Jovanovski. “They’re all good guys, they’re polite and have good families. They’ve got their heads on right.”

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If anybody has a right to party in Penticton, it’s Ohlund.

He could have held several pity parties for enduring four eye procedures after being struck in the right eye by a deflected puck in a 1999 pre-season game that permanently reduced his vision.

He could have wallowed in self-pity after requiring three knee surgeries between Vancouver and his final two-season career stop in Tampa Bay. But he never said a negative word. I’ve sucked it up and played.

It’s why Ohlund was added to the Canucks’ Ring on Honor in 2016 and why his legacy is lasting. After all, when former teammate and roommate Trevor Linden named his son Roman Mattias Linden following the 2017 birth, he said everything about Ohlund’s impact on him.

“He was a calming influence on all of us,” said Henrik Sedin. “He was very professional. He wasn’t too outspoken in the dressing room, but he just showed us the everyday life in the NHL and it was very important for us.

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“To be around him on a daily basis and to see all the things he fought through and playing with broken bones, it was amazing to see.”

When Ohlund’s inclusion in the Ring of Honor was announced at the 2016 draft — it would have been earlier because he was still under contract to the Lightning — he seemed surprised. Never one to talk loud and long about accomplishments, it was another example of why I have deserved the honour.

“This was definitely unexpected and it’s very exciting,” Ohlund, the 13th overall pick in the 1994 draft, said at that time. “Playing in a Canadian market and a great city was special and I knew of the history here with Swedish players like Thomas Gradin, and Pat Quinn drafted me. He was a very special person.

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“We had some competitive teams and I’m not surprised that Henrik, Daniel are still having success. Hard-working guys and low-maintenance guys and certainly serving of success.”

When a raw rookie named Alex Edler was recalled early in the 2006-07 season from the Manitoba Moose while Sami Salo and Willie Mitchell nursed injuries, he leaned on Ohlund for guidance to get through a tough night in Denver. He would play 22 games that season during four recalls and Ohlund game him a leg up on what to expect when he became a regular roster.

“The Swedes took care of me,” said Edler. “They made sure I had everything I needed and there were a lot of things for the ice and that was huge for me. And Mattias was a defenseman that I really looked up to. I liked the way he played and his style of him and just how he approached every day. ”

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That constructive input and caring continues.

When Elias Pettersson made a seamless transition to the NHL and captured the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie in 2018-19, it was a product of staying true to his electric game with 66 points (28-38) in 71 games. It was also staying in sync with professional demands on and off the ice.

“I’ve learned to live and play here pretty fast, so that wasn’t a problem,” Pettersson said early in his first season. They (Swedish teammates) have helped me a lot and they know what I’m going through.”

The Canucks drafted three Swedes in 2021 — defensemen Jonathan Myrenberg and Hugo Gabrielson plus forward Lucas Forsell — to speak of their continued interest.

HOW SWEDE IT IS: Canucks history of Swedish players

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Goalies: Joacim Eriksson, Johan Hedberg, Eddie Lack, Jacob Markstrom, Anders Nilsson.

Defensemen: Alex Edler, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Anders Eldebrink, Oscar Fantenberg, Philip Holm, Lars Lindgren, Robert Nordmark, Mattias Ohlund, Bert Robertsson, Leif Rohlin, Lars Zetterstrom.

forwards: Jonas Andersson, Magnus Arvedson, Per-Olov Brasar, Loui Eriksson, Thomas Gradin, Nils Höglander, Mats Lindgren, Lars Molin, Markus Naslund, Samuel Pahlsson, Elias Pettersson, Anton Rodin, Mikael Samuelsson, Daniel Sedin, Henrik Sedin, Mats Sundin, Patrick Sundstrom.

Top prospects: Linus Karlsson, Viktor Persson.

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